Pleat-forming drapery clip ring

ABSTRACT

A drapery clip ring for hanging drapery on a drapery rod, the drapery clip ring including a ring arranged to receive the drapery rod therethrough, a gripping means connected to and extending away from the ring, and a pleat endoskeleton connected to and extending away from the ring, the pleat endoskeleton being arranged proximate the gripping means, wherein the pleat endoskeleton is adapted to provide an internal framework of a pleat formed in the drapery, and the gripping means is operatively arranged to secure the pleat formed in the drapery.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to drapery hardware. More particularly, the invention relates to drapery clip rings and, even more particularly, to pleat-forming drapery clip rings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clip rings are well known drapery hardware used for hanging drapery and curtains. A clip ring generally comprises a simple ring with a clip extending therefrom. The ring is arranged to fit around a drapery rod such that it is easily slidable along the length thereof. The clip is arranged to hang below the rod and securely grip a portion of the fabric of the drapery.

Generally, a plurality of clip rings, arranged in succession along the length of the rod, is used to hang the drapery. As the clip rings are easily slidable along the rod, a user may easily position the drapery hanging therefrom at desired locations along the rod. When the drapery is gathered together, its fabric tends to bunch and fold, especially near the upper portion of its fabric where the clip rings are gripping it. Consequently, drapery is often provided with pleats in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing means for gathering the bunched and folded fabric.

A pleat is type of fold in fabric formed by doubling the fabric over on itself. There are many different types of pleats, for example, knife pleats and the box pleats. The knife pleat is the basic pleat and is -formed by folding the fabric generally along two roughly parallel lines, usually in a 3:1 ratio, wherein three inches of fabric will create one inch of finished pleat. A box pleat comprises two knife pleats arranged back-to-back. Box pleats tend to spring out from the surface to which they are secured.

The folds of a pleat are usually maintained in the fabric by pressing, ironing, or heat-setting the fabric into a sharp crease. Unfortunately, these methods are time-consuming, arduous, and not particularly effective as repeated movement and use of the drapery tends to deform the pleats. Consequently, pleats are often maintained in the fabric by sewing the folded fabric together. Sewing is problematic in that it is both arduous and requires specialized skill and knowledge. Additionally, while it may be desirable to fashion pleats in one's drapery, it may not be desirable to permanently alter the drapery by sewing the pleats into the fabric, especially if one wishes to later eliminate the pleats.

Thus, there is a longfelt need for a means for forming and maintaining pleats in the fabric of drapery that is not time-consuming, arduous, nor requires specialized skill and knowledge. There is also a longfelt need for such a means that does not require sewing or otherwise permanently altering the fabric of the drapery.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a drapery clip ring comprising: a ring having a an outer surface; a gripping means connected to the outer surface; and, a pleat endoskeleton connected to the outer surface and arranged substantially in front of the gripping means, wherein the pleat endoskeleton is operatively arranged to provide an internal framework of a pleat, and the gripping means is operatively arranged to secure the pleat when formed around the pleat endoskeleton.

The invention may further comprise a drapery assembly comprising: a drapery rod; drapery; and, a plurality of the drapery clip rings as described supra, wherein the rings of the plurality of drapery clip rings are slidably disposed around the drapery rod, the drapery includes a plurality of box pleats formed around the pleat endoskeletons and secured by the gripping means of the plurality of drapery clip rings, and the plurality of clip rings is operatively arranged to support the weight of drapery via the gripping means.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a means for forming and maintaining pleats in the fabric of drapery that is not time-consuming, arduous, nor requires specialized skill and knowledge.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for such a means that does not require sewing or otherwise permanently altering the fabric of the drapery.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a drapery assembly employing a plurality of first embodiment drapery clip rings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the drapery formed into a box pleat via the drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the section of the drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the section of the drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded rear perspective view of the section of the drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the drapery pleat ring shown in FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a back plan view of the drapery pleat ring shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of a second embodiment drapery pleat ring;

FIG. 9 is a back plan view of the drapery pleat ring shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a section of the drapery formed into a box pleat via the drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 9; and,

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the section of the drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Furthermore, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

The following description is best understood in view FIGS. 1-7. FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of drapery assembly 200 comprising drapery rod 210, which is preferably arranged substantially horizontally and secured proximate a vertical surface, such as a wall, a plurality of first embodiment drapery clip rings 100 slidably disposed around drapery rod 210, and drapery 215 hanging from the plurality of clip rings 100. Drapery 210 rod may be any suitable rod operatively arranged to hang drapery thereon. Drapery 215 may be made of any suitable material, such as textile, fabrics, plastics, or the like, and comprises a plurality of box pleats 220 formed via the plurality of drapery clip rings 100. The plurality of clip rings 100 is operatively arranged to support the weight of drapery 215 as described infra.

Drapery clip ring 100 comprises ring 110 having outer surface 112, gripping means 140 connected to and extending away from ring 110, and pleat endoskeleton 120 connected to and extending away from ring 110 and arranged proximate gripping means 140. Preferably, pleat endoskeleton 120 is arranged substantially in front of gripping means 140. Ring 110 further includes inner surface 114, which preferably comprises recess 116, and through-bore 117, which extends from inner surface 114 to outer surface 112. Ring 110 is arranged to slidably receive rod 210 therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, pleat endoskeleton 120 is connected to outer surface 112 via member 118, which may be a substantially straight extension tangentially connected to ring 110.

Pleat endoskeleton 120 comprises back surface 130 and front surface 122, which is preferably substantially planar and bounded by left and right side edges 124 a and 124 b, respectively, bottom edge 128, and top edge 126. Left and right side edges, 124 a and 124 b, are preferably substantially vertical and parallel, in order to provide the internal framework for the substantially parallel folds of a box pleat. Top edge 126 is preferably arranged such that it does not extend past the top edge of drapery 215 when in use.

Gripping means 140 may be any gripping means known in the art, and is preferably in the form of clip 140 for first embodiment drapery clip ring 100. Clip 140 comprises left and rights jaws 146 a and 146 b, respectively, which are pivotally connected to each other, and an urging means operatively arranged to urge left and right jaws, 146 a and 146 b, toward a closed position. The urging means may be any suitable means known in the art, and is preferably in the form of coil spring 150 for first embodiment drapery clip ring 100. Clip 140 may be connected to ring 110 by any means known in the art, and is preferably connected thereto via post 142, which is attached to or integral with coil spring 150 and extends through through-bore 117 to inner surface 114, preferably within recess 116. Post 142 may include head 141, which is arranged to prevent the rest of post 142 from sliding out of through-bore 117.

Pleat endoskeleton 120 is adapted to provide an internal framework for pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, and clip 140 is operatively arranged to secure pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, as described in detail infra.

To form pleat 220 using drapery clip ring 100, a user places a section of drapery 215 against front surface 122, and then wraps drapery 215 around left and right side edges, 124 a and 124 b, such that the material of drapery 215 meets behind pleat endoskeleton 120 to form pleat joint 226. Clip 140 is operatively arranged to secure the formation of pleat 220 by gripping pleat joint 226 behind pleat endoskeleton 120.Left and right jaws, 146 a and 146 b, and coil spring 150 are adapted to support the weight of drapery 215, at least in the aggregate when a plurality of drapery clip rings 100 are employed to hang drapery 215.

It is contemplated that front surface 122 and left and right side edges, 124 a and 124 b, may be modified in order to provide the internal framework for various types of pleats and other forms. For example, front surface 122 may be arcuate in order to provide the framework for a bulging pleat, and side edges 124 a and 124 b may be nonparallel in order to provide the framework for folds in drapery 215 that are divergent or convergent, i.e., that flare out or taper.

FIGS. 8-11 show second embodiment drapery clip ring 300. Drapery clip ring 300 comprises ring 310 having outer surface 312, gripping means 340 connected to and extending away from ring 310, and pleat endoskeleton 320 connected to and extending away from ring 310 and arranged proximate gripping means 340. Preferably, pleat endoskeleton 320 is arranged substantially in front of gripping means 340. Ring 310 further includes inner surface 314, which preferably comprises recess 316, and through-bore 317, which extends from inner surface 314 to outer surface 312. Ring 310 is arranged to slidably receive rod 210 therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, pleat endoskeleton 320 is connected to outer surface 312 via member 318, which may be a substantially straight extension tangentially connected to ring 310. In this embodiment, ring 310 is substantially circular.

Pleat endoskeleton 320 comprises back surface 330 and front surface 322, which is preferably substantially planar and bounded by left and right side edges 324 a and 324 b, respectively, bottom edge 328, and top edge 326. Left and right side edges, 324 a and 324 b, are preferably substantially vertical and parallel, in order to provide the internal framework for the substantially parallel folds of a box pleat. Top edge 326 is preferably arranged such that it does not extend past the top edge of drapery 215 when in use.

In this embodiment, gripping means 340 is in the form of clip 340. Clip 340 comprises left and rights jaws 346 a and 346 b, respectively, which are pivotally connected to each other, and an urging means operatively arranged to urge left and right jaws, 346 a and 346 b, toward a closed position. The urging means is preferably in the form of leaf spring 350 for this embodiment. Clip 340 may be connected to ring 310 by any means known in the art, and is preferably connected thereto via post 342, which is preferably attached to either left jaw 346 a or right jaw 346 b and extends through through-bore 317 to inner surface 314, preferably within recess 316. Post 342 may include head 341, which is arranged to prevent the rest of post 342 from sliding out of through-bore 317.

Pleat endoskeleton 320 is adapted to provide an internal framework for pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, and clip 340 is operatively arranged to secure pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. To form pleat 220 using drapery clip ring 300, a user places a section of drapery 215 against front surface 322, and then wraps drapery 215 around left and right side edges, 324 a and 324 b, such that the material of drapery 215 meets behind pleat endoskeleton 320 to form pleat joint 226. Clip 340 is operatively arranged to secure the formation of pleat 220 by gripping pleat joint 226 behind pleat endoskeleton 320. Left and right jaws, 346 a and 346 b, and leaf spring 350 are adapted to support the weight of drapery 215, at least in the aggregate when a plurality of drapery clip rings 300 are employed to hang drapery 215.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A drapery clip ring for hanging drapery on a drapery rod, the drapery clip ring comprising: a ring arranged to receive the drapery rod therethrough; a gripping means connected to and extending away from the ring; and, a pleat endoskeleton connected to and extending away from the ring, the pleat endoskeleton being arranged proximate the gripping means, wherein the pleat endoskeleton is adapted to provide an internal framework of a pleat formed in the drapery, and the gripping means is operatively arranged to secure the pleat formed in the drapery.
 2. The drapery clip ring recited in claim 1 wherein the pleat endoskeleton is arranged substantially in front of the gripping means, and the gripping means is arranged to secure the pleat formed in the drapery behind the pleat endoskeleton.
 3. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the pleat endoskeleton comprises a substantially planar front surface bounded by two substantially vertical side edges.
 4. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the pleat endoskeleton is adapted to provide an internal framework of a box pleat formed in the drapery.
 5. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the gripping means comprises a clip.
 6. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 5 wherein the clip comprises a left jaw pivotally connected to a right jaw, and an urging means operatively arranged to urge the left jaw and right jaw toward a closed position.
 7. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 6 wherein the urging means comprises a coil spring.
 8. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 6 wherein the urging means comprises a leaf spring.
 9. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the ring comprises an outer surface, an inner surface comprising a recess, and a through-bore extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, and the gripping means is connected to the ring via a post extending from the gripping means, through the through-bore, to the recess.
 10. A drapery assembly comprising: a drapery rod; drapery; and, a plurality of drapery clip rings as recited in claim 1, wherein the rings of the plurality of drapery clip rings are slidably disposed around the drapery rod, the drapery includes a plurality of box pleats formed around the pleat endoskeletons and secured by the gripping means of the plurality of drapery clip rings, and the plurality of clip rings is operatively arranged to support the weight of drapery via the gripping means. 